‘Jesus also felt alone and isolated...’

BALLYBUNION parish priest Fr Sean Hanafin serves the pastoral heartlands of Ballydonoghue, Ballylongford and Tarbert. He is in self-isolation and said nothing he has ever witnessed in life, to date, compares with the COVID-19 crisis.

“My only contact with people is by phone at the moment,” Fr Sean said.

“It feels surprising and even shocking that people aren’t gathering for the Eucharist and that I can’t go out and about and Minister to people, the children in schools, and the people I visit on the first Friday.”

Fr Sean is managing to rekindle a way of life familiar to him in order to get through the long days of self-isolation.

“In college we had retreats, periods of silence, reflection and prayer. It’s been easy for me to kick back into that way of life in these times. It can be a time for reading, reflection and prayer.”

In his Easter message, Fr Sean draws on the sense of isolation and suffering felt by Jesus Christ in his hour of need.

“This is the week that we reflect on the life of Jesus and, in particular, his suffering and isolation. Jesus felt alone but the one thing he had was knowing God was with him.

“That really would be my reflection for parishioners this week – Jesus was cut off from life, not unlike what is happening to most of us at the moment. I think this is very pertinent.”

Fr Sean continued: “I pray for the front-line medical staff who have a long way to go yet.

“My prayers really go to them and that they may find the strength, resolution and energy to keep going.”